No to Solid foods before 6 months of age - Feeding Guide

FEEDING GUIDE FOR YOUR CHILD

It is advisable not to give solid foods till your baby is 6 months old unless your physician advices you to do so. Solids should not be started before 6 months for the following reasons:

• Breast milk or formula provides your baby all the nutrients that are needed to grow
• By introducing water, tea, glucose water and other liquids, you increase the risk of exposing your baby to infection
• Neither water not other fluid is needed even for babies living in hot climates, as breast mild gives all the water your baby needs
• Your baby is not physically developed to eat solid foods from a spoon
• Starting your baby on solid foods too early increase the chance that he/she may develop a food allergy
• Feeding your baby solid food too early may lead to overfeeding and being over weight
• As a general rule, solid foods do not help babies sleep through the night.

WHAT ARE CUES THAT TELL YOU THAT BABIES ARE DEVELOPENTALLY READY FOR SOLID FOODS?

• They are able to sit upright with support
• They open their mouths when they see a spoon coming towards them
• They can move the food from the spoon and swallow without pushing back out of the mouth
• They make chewing motions
• Drooling decreases as they become efficient in swallowing
• They have doubled their birth weight (usually around 6 months)
• They have the ability to reject food

Dr. Chitra Sankar                                                                                                         Developmental Pediatrician